A three-day inspection of Macclesfield Hospital, Congleton Hospital and community services last December found a mixed bag, and gave a ‘requires improvement’ rating.

It found overall the trust rated ‘good’ in its care provision but needed to improve its safety, effectiveness, responsiveness and leadership.

Community health services for adults was rated ‘inadequate’.

This was put down to staff shortages, nurses struggling with their workload and important documents not being completed, as well as training issues with senior clinical staff.

Staffing was an issue across all services and inspectors found a shortages of junior doctors, registrars, nurses and midwives.

They also found systems for reporting and managing incidents were not followed consistently and there was a lack of clarity on following the safeguarding policy and reporting issues.

Systems for the management, storage, administration, disposal and recording of medication – including controlled drugs and oxygen – were not robust enough and concerns with the decontamination and storage of equipment and the maintenance of a safe environment was an issue.

Inspectors also found policies for managing patients in isolation rooms were not always followed.

It wasn’t all bad news for the health trust.

Inspectors found outstanding practice in the community dental service, autism services and a pioneering home intravenous therapy service, and good working practices among the Parkinson’s nurses, respiratory nurses, physiotherapists and podiatrists.

Chief executive John Wilbraham said: “I would like to reassure patients that they will be well cared for when they need us and I am also very pleased that our staff have been publicly recognised for the care they give.

“The report offers opportunities for the trust to improve further and we are confident staff will respond positively to these and have done since December.”